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Anthrax Exposure Treatment Information
- What is anthrax?
- Is anthrax contagious?
- Am I likely to get anthrax?
- Where is anthrax usually found?
- Who normally gets infected with anthrax?
- How soon would symptoms develop without treatment?
- How can I prevent anthrax disease from developing after exposure?
- Can I develop an anthrax infection even if I take antibiotics?
1. Pentagon Stress Management Team
Anthrax is a disease caused by a bacterium (germ) called Bacillus anthracis that can form spores that can travel through the air.
Anthrax most commonly occurs in warm-blooded animals, especially goats, cattle, and sheep, but it can also infect humans.
Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation (lung), and gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines).
Inhalation anthrax is the most serious form of the disease and is caused by breathing anthrax into the lungs. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, difficulty breathing, chills, weakness, and chest discomfort. Severe breathing problems and death usually result without treatment.
Cutaneous (skin) anthrax is caused when the bacteria come into direct contact with skin that has been cut or has a break in it. The disease first causes a raised, itchy bump that resembles an insect bite. Within one to two days after the bump appears, a small blister develops. This blister then becomes a painless sore with a black center. Lymph glands in the area of the infection may swell.
Gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) anthrax is caused by eating meat from an infected animal or by eating or drinking other foods or liquids contaminated with the bacteria. It causes nausea, vomiting, fever, pain in the stomach, and diarrhea.
2. Is anthrax contagious?
Inhalation and gastrointestional anthrax are not contagious. (Not spread from person to person) You cannot catch these types of anthrax from someone who is infected and others cannot catch anthrax from you.
If you develop a sore on your skin from anthrax, the drainage from that sore could spread anthrax to others.
Skin anthrax does not usually develop into a serious infection if it is treated with antibiotics.
3. Am I likely to get anthrax?
It depends on how heavily you may have been exposed to anthrax spores. It is the result of how the spores were released, where it was released and where you were when they were released.
4. Where is anthrax usually found?
Anthrax is found around the globe. It is more often a risk in countries that do not vaccinate their livestock, or that have substandard or ineffective public-health programs.
5. Who normally gets infected with anthrax?
Animals and people can get anthrax disease. Traditionally, anthrax has been most commonly found in agricultural regions where goats, sheep, cattle or other plant-eating animals have not been vaccinated. When anthrax infects humans, it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products, especially hides, hair, wool, bones or bone products. Less commonly, eating undercooked, contaminated meat can infect humans. Recently, anthrax has been used as a biological weapon delivered through the mail.
6. How soon would symptoms develop without treatment?
Without treatment, symptoms might begin from one to six days after exposure. Since the spores can live for a long time in the environment, symptoms may not start for up to 60 days or more after contamination takes place.
7. How can I prevent anthrax disease from developing after exposure?
Because it is possible that you were exposed to anthrax, you are being given antibiotics to try to prevent an infection from developing. You will need to take the antibiotics that you were given for a long time, ranging from 10 to 60 days. It is very important that you do not stop taking the medicine until you are instructed to by your health care provider.
Take these antibiotics exactly as you are directed by your health care provider. If you do not take the antibiotics as often or for as long as prescribed, you may get a serious anthrax infection. Your health care provider may give you additional information along with the antibiotics.
If you develop side effects from the antibiotics, tell your health provider immediately. Depending on the type of side effects, you may be able to continue taking the medicine or may need to be switched to another medicine.
8. Can I develop an anthrax infection even if I take antibiotics?
It is unlikely that you will develop an anthrax infection while you are taking antibiotics, but it is not impossible. Because of that possibility, you should watch for:
- A fever greater than 100 degrees F. Take your temperature daily.
- Flu-like symptoms such as cough, fatigue, muscle aches, nauseas, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- A sore, especially on your face, arms, or hands.
Contact your health care provider immediately if you develop any of these symptoms.
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